NASCAR Statistical Advance: Analyzing Auto Club 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California going into the Auto Club 400 on March 24.

AUTO CLUB-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Window Film Ford)

· One win, four top fives, six top 10s

· Average finish of 17.2

· Average Running Position of 12.7, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 95.9, eighth-best

· 215 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· 1,024 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.400 mph, seventh-fastest

· 2,269 Laps in the Top 15 (69.1%), eighth-most

· 583 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 11th-most

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota)

· Two top fives, seven top 10s

· Average finish of 10.8

· Average Running Position of 13.2, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 91.7, 11th-best

· 1,003 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing-Serta Chevrolet)

· One win, four top fives, nine top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 12.7

· Average Running Position of 14.7, 13th-best

· Driver Rating of 89.2, 13th-best

· 90 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

· 1,141 Green Flag Passes, third-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.930 mph, 12th-fastest

· 2,127 Laps in the Top 15 (64.8%), 10th-most

· 631 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.3

· Average Running Position of 9.6, third-best

· Driver Rating of 106.4, second-best

· 195 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.427 mph, fifth-fastest

· 2,603 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), third-most

· 701 Quality Passes, third-most

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)

· One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 8.7

· Average Running Position of 12.3, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 98.5, sixth-best

· 153 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.437 mph, third-fastest

· 2,472 Laps in the Top 15 (75.3%), sixth-most

· 640 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 10 top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 11.8

· Average Running Position of 9.8, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 97.7, seventh-best

· 200 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 1,123 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.397 mph, eighth-fastest

· 2,502 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), fourth-most

· Series-high 715 Quality Passes

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)

· One top five, four top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 18.5

· Average Running Position of 14.6, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 89.8, 12th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.018 mph, 10th-fastest

· 1,738 Laps in the Top 15 (62.5%), 13th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)

· One win, four top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 15.5

· Average Running Position of 12.3, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 94.5, ninth-best

· 1,097 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.138 mph, ninth-fastest

· 2,381 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5%), seventh-most

· 632 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet)

· Five wins, 12 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 5.4

· Series-best Average Running Position of 5.4

· Series-best Driver Rating of 122.4

· Series-high 456 Fastest Laps Run

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 172.113 mph

· Series-high 3,142 Laps in the Top 15 (95.7%)

· 708 Quality Passes, second-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

· One win, four top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 14.9

· Average Running Position of 14.6, 11th-best

· Driver Rating of 92.6, 10th-best

· 107 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· 1,072 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 170.924 mph, 13th-fastest

· 2,072 Laps in the Top 15 (63.1%), 11th-most

· 627 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

· Three wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s

· Average finish of 10.3

· Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best

· Driver Rating of 105.2, third-best

· 128 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

· 1,044 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.459 mph, second-fastest

· 2,689 Laps in the Top 15 (81.9%), second-most

· 646 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)

· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s

· Average finish of 13.6

· Average Running Position of 9.9, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 99.7, fifth-best

· 146 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.430 mph, fourth-fastest

· 2,207 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), ninth-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s

· Average finish of 13.5

· Average Running Position of 10.1, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 102.4, fourth-best

· 216 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.426 mph, sixth-fastest

· 2,502 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), fourth-most

· 655 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 4 of 36

Rank Season

Last Driver

Driver

Points

Wins

Poles

Week

Rating

1. Brad Keselowski

166

0

0

2

110.0

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

157

0

0

3

101.7

3. Jimmie Johnson

151

1

0

1

117.4

4. Clint Bowyer

128

0

0

9

88.9

5. Greg Biffle

126

0

0

8

89.9

6. Denny Hamlin

125

0

0

4

99.0

7. Kasey Kahne

124

1

0

14

105.2

8. Carl Edwards

124

1

0

5

87.7

9. Paul Menard

118

0

0

12

81.7

10. Kyle Busch

115

0

1

17

95.2

11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

115

0

0

11

76.9

12. Joey Logano

104

0

0

15

84.5

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Matt Kenseth

103

30. Dave Blaney

66

14. Jamie McMurray

100

31. AJ Allmendinger

64

15. Marcos Ambrose

99

32. David Reutimann

63

16. Kurt Busch

98

33. David Ragan

53

17. Kevin Harvick

98

34. David Stremme

50

18. Martin Truex Jr.

96

35. David Gilliland

49

19. Mark Martin

95

36. Travis Kvapil

46

20. Aric Almirola

95

37. Michael McDowell

38

21. Jeff Gordon

90

38. Terry Labonte

37

22. Casey Mears.

89

39. Scott Speed

32

23. Ryan Newman

87

40. Landon Cassill

25

24. Tony Stewart

85

41. Michael Waltrip

23

25. Jeff Burton

78

42. Ken Schrader

17

26. Juan Pablo Montoya

77

43. Scott Riggs

1

27. J.J. Yeley

75

28. Danica Patrick

69

29. Bobby Labonte

66

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Auto Club Speedway

Driver

Races

Poles

Wins

Top Fives

Top 10s

DNFs

Average Finish

Driver Rating

1

Brad Keselowski

4

0

0

0

0

0

22.8

64.5

2

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

20

0

0

4

5

5

20.8

75.8

3

Jimmie Johnson

18

1

5

12

14

0

5.4

122.4

4

Clint Bowyer

12

0

0

2

7

0

10.8

91.7

5

Greg Biffle

18

0

1

4

6

3

17.2

95.9

6

Denny Hamlin

12

2

0

1

4

2

18.5

89.8

7

Kasey Kahne

16

1

1

4

9

3

14.9

92.6

8

Carl Edwards

15

1

1

7

12

0

8.7

98.5

9

Paul Menard

10

0

0

0

0

0

24.7

57.8

10

Kyle Busch

15

1

1

6

10

1

11.3

106.4

11

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

0

0

0

0

0

0

-

-

12

Joey Logano

6

0

0

1

1

0

17.5

70.9

* – Based on last 14 races at Auto Club Speedway.

At Auto Club Speedway:

History

· Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway was originally known, took place in November 1995.

· The first race at Auto Club Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 22, 1997 and won by Jeff Gordon.

· September 2004 was the first night race at Auto Club Speedway and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series ran two races in a season there.

· The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in February 2008.

Notebook

· There have been 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway, the track hosted one NSCS race a season from 1997-2003, then two races per season from 2004-2010. In 2011 Auto Club Speedway returned to a single race season.

· 125 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club; 105 in more than one.

· Three drivers have participated in all 23 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte.

· Joe Nemechek won the inaugural pole with a speed of 183.015 mph (39.341 secs.)

· 15 drivers have poles at ACS, led by Kurt Busch with three.

· Kurt Busch (2006) and Jamie McMurray (2010) are the only two drivers to win consecutive poles at Auto Club Speedway.

· 14 different drivers have won at ACS, led by Jimmie Johnson (five). Three other drivers have multiple wins at Auto Club Speedway: Jeff Gordon and 2012 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth each have three wins, Tony Stewart has two.

· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.

· California-native Jimmie Johnson became the first and only driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway in 2008.

· Only two ACS races have been won from the front row both by five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, fall of 2008 (pole); and the fall of 2007 (second-place).

· 12 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Seven of the 23 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 31st, by Matt Kenseth in the spring of 2006.

· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Auto Club Speedway with five; followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon with four.

· Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-five finishes at Auto club Speedway with 12; followed by Jeff Gordon(10) and Matt Kenseth (eight).

· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes with 14; followed by Matt Kenseth (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Tony Stewart (12).

· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at ACS with a 5.389;

· Jimmie Johnson (5.3)and Carl Edwards (8.7) are the only two active drivers with an average finish in the top 10 at Auto Club Speedway.

· There have been two green-white-checkered finishes at Auto Club Speedway: 2005 (250/254) and 2006 (250/251).

· Kyle Busch won his first pole (2/27/05) and first series win (9/4/05) at Auto Club Speedway. Jimmie Johnsonalso posted his first series career win at ACS in (4/28/02).

· Greg Biffle (4/28/02) and J.J. Yeley (9/5/04) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Auto Club Speedway.

· Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win consecutive races at Auto Club Speedway (fall of 2009 – spring of 2010).

· 12 of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Auto Club Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon (1997 – inaugural event) and Jimmie Johnson (2002) are the only drivers to win at ACS in their first appearance.

· Tony Stewart competed at Auto Club Speedway 18 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any the 14 winners. Only Stewart (18) and Kevin Harvick (17) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Auto Club Speedway.

· Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte lead the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 23.

· Since the advent of electronic scoring, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway was the March 27, 2011 race won by Kevin Harvick with an MOV of 0.144 second.

· Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Auto Club Speedway the following season: Jeff Gordon (1999), Jimmie Johnson, whois the only one to do it multiple times,(2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) and Tony Stewart (2012).

· Two drivers have won at Auto Club Speedway and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

· This weekend will be Danica Patrick’s first attempt at Auto Club Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.Shawna Robinson is the only female driver to have made a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway to date. She did so on April 28, 2002 starting 43rd and finishing 42nd.

· Only three car numbers have produced three or more Auto Club Speedway NSCS wins: